On wearing jeans: College principal hardens stand, girls fly into a rage

Once bitten, the principal of Adarsh Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Bhiwani isn't twice shy.

Alka Sharma on Monday justified her decision of imposing Rs 100 fine on four girls for wearing jeans and T-shirt - in violation of the college dress code - during a surprise check on Friday.

Sharma said: "We have banned western outfits to keep girls safe. In uniform, all girls look similar so they don't attract boys' unusual attention, unlike western clothes."

Though girls tried to register their protest, they had to take a backseat after college authorities warned them of serious repercussions.

When mediapersons reached the college, angst-ridden students said abstaining from western clothes was a thing of the past and in modern society they must be free to choose what they wear.

Ritu, a student, said: "Ban on wearing jeans or western clothes doesn't guarantee that boys would not pass comments on girls. If a girl is hiding behind a veil and doesn't have confidence to handle the situation, she can fall victim to eve-teasing."

She said: "The important thing is that girls must feel confident in whatever they wear."

Jatinder Parsad, head of sociology department at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, said: "Ban on wearing jeans and T-shirt means a ban of their freedom. If we try to mould modern girls as per conservative mindset they will not be able to adjust in the professional world. The situation will be worse if they move to metropolitan cities or foreign countries."